On September 12, 2025, Sram presented a formal complaint to theItalian Competition Authority (BCA) Belgian against the International Cycling Union (UCI). The UCI Protocol on the Maximum Ratio is being challenged. The appeal was examined on 17 September 2025. BCA has initiated formal antitrust proceedings.
The 10,46 meter limit
Start like this the communication released on Friday by Sram to which the UCI responded with unprecedented speed. The new rules on materials, launched in July, have caused more than a few stomach aches: predictable and well-motivated. Knowing that The gear test will be carried out at the Tour of Guangxi, as in the past among the juniors, has made tempers flare.
The wheel height restriction starting in 2026 has caused not only damage to the company's image but also its financial impact. This was in the midst of launching new ranges: outlawing it was a cold shower. The limitation of the metric development of the ratios has instead hit the American brand in particularHaving pushed for the spread of single chainring systems, Sram has in fact introduced the 10-speed sprocket. Even combined with the 52, the 10 allows you to exceed the limit of 10,46 meters imposed by the UCI in the name of the reduction of speeds indicated by SafeRThe curious thing about this commission is that it includes all the cycling representatives, but not the technical sponsors, even though it can legislate on them.
A (not very) transparent climate
What we read is that Sram has reportedly tried several times to involve theUCI in an in-depth study on the topic, without however obtaining a comprehensive answer. In light of the possible penalization of athletes (and of the risk – we add – that the renewal of the sponsorships is put at risk), the company has taken legal action.
“Calling it a test doesn’t make it any less of a race,” said Ken Lousberg, CEO of Sram. All cyclists on the starting line should compete on equal terms. At the moment, teams equipped with SRAM will have to compete at a disadvantage. With compromised equipment and a reduced number of gearbox options compared to competitors. Furthermore, it's unclear what is being tested. Given the way the governing body makes decisions, it's impossible to know who might be interested in cycling in the future. Through this process, we hope to create a more transparent and collaborative climate for teams and component suppliers. To have a better and safer sport for everyone."
The first press release from the UCI
The UCI has to manage several fronts. The singular aspect is that each criticality would appear to be caused by untimely actions implemented without applying the regulations to which the Swiss agency seems so attached. In fact, the technical regulations have been added the awkward passage of the racing GPS, tested at the women's Tour de Romandie. Consider from these episodes that SafeR has become a new instrument of power, like anti-doping in other years, it's too elementary.
In an initial statement released yesterday morning, the UCI expressed its concern at the publication of SRAM's press release before being informed. It added that the possibility of conducting another test in 2026 will depend on the results of the Chinese test, with the goal of "le measures to increase the safety of cyclistsThe UCI is confident that its proposal to test gear changes complies with EU and Belgian competition law. It is not the task of those who protect the right to competition to bring about a "levelling down" of regulatory and safety standards".
The second statement
By mid-afternoon, however, they had adjusted their approach. In a second statement, the UCI detailed the reasons behind the decision to proceed with the verification of the reports. "It has been demonstrated," it read, "that the increase in maximum speeds reached by cyclists in recent years, particularly when going downhill, is linked to the evolution of equipment and constitutes a risk factor for their safety. It should also be underlined that the majority of cyclists expressed themselves in favour of checking the maximum limits of the transmission ratio in a questionnaire sent before the protocol was defined. The Protocol for the Test The Maximum Ratio is not aimed at a specific brand or supplier, but applies uniformly to all cyclists in the group."
The closure is understandable, halfway between an outstretched hand and a reaffirmation of one's will. «The UCI remains fully open to dialogue with equipment manufacturers – he writes – in order to continue the harmonious and innovative development of our sport. Technological innovation is an essential driver of cycling, but it must be included in a clear and transparent regulatory framework that respects the safety of athletesHowever, the UCI questions Sram's objectives in opposing a test designed to assess the relevance of a safety improvement measure, thus undermining the necessary unity among cycling stakeholders, essential for progress towards a safer sport."
The missing voice
The reduction in wheel profile and metric development certainly leads to a reduction in speed. However, it is possible to establish with certainty whether the most disastrous falls in recent years were caused by bikes that were too fast or rather by the impassable roads and full of architectural barriers?
Forcing such a large number of companies to review your production has consequences and provokes reactions. Not having the voice of companies within SafeR means that Legislation is made with little knowledge of the facts and this makes the UCI less credibleThe impetus given by the need to do something is appreciable, but there is a higher level to which we are accountable. The harmonious and innovative development of cycling It cannot be achieved with rules dictated without even the slightest consensus and with ridiculous and damaging advance notice. Initiatives like this cannot be expected to dictate the agenda for large corporations. Technological innovation is indeed an essential driving force of cycling, as long as it is not limited to a display of words.
